Colombian students visit Lindner for weeklong cultural experience
The college's international programs challenge perceptions, teach global business practices
The Carl H. Lindner College of Business recently welcomed a cohort of international students from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (PUJ) in Bogotá, Colombia, to learn from Lindner students and faculty, explore Cincinnati and experience American university life.
Eight business students from PUJ, alongside their adviser Adrian Garalti, Ph.D., professor and director of undergraduate programs in economics, visited campus for a seven-day trip in June. The students had a packed schedule, balancing local company visits, short courses with Lindner faculty and sightseeing. In the spring, Lindner students traveled to PUJ’s campus in Bogotá to explore the unique business environment and culture of Colombia.
Lee Armstrong, Director of Lindner International Programs.
“It's nice for Lindner students to be able to reciprocate the hospitality,” said Lee Armstrong, director of Lindner International Programs. “They go somewhere, and they see how much those students in the countries where they go to visit want to show them their country. So, when those international students are coming here, it's really nice for our students to be able to do the same, to show them everything that we have to offer.”
PUJ shares Lindner’s commitment to molding global business scholars and helping students build their international networks. The university hopes week-long experiences like its visit to Lindner and Cincinnati spark a passion for international learning that propels students to continue their travels and forge new connections.
“The purpose of the university is to encourage people to have an impact. That's the spirit of Javeriana. The whole point about having this international experience is to say, ‘Oh, this is how these other people think. This is another way to do stuff,’” said Garalti of his university’s mission.
Several Lindner students welcomed the PUJ visitors, acting as tour guides for the week. Makayla Maloney, BBA ’24, who previously traveled to Colombia with Lindner’s Social Entrepreneurship course (INTB 3094), planned several outings for the students, including a trip to Krohn Conservatory and salsa dancing on Fountain Square.
"I had such a good time in Colombia. The students gave me such a good experience and I wanted to return the favor," said Maloney. "I wanted to show them around Cincinnati because there's just so many hidden gems that I knew I wanted to share with them that are totally different from what they experience in Colombia."
Midori Zimmerman, BBA '24, enjoyed getting to know the visiting students through their conversations and tours of Cincinnati.
Nurturing international partnerships
The visit from the Colombian students marked the first such trip since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, prior to which Lindner hosted several visiting students from international partner institutions.
Although the University of Cincinnati has been a long-time partner with PUJ, Lindner’s relationship with the university began in 2018 when the college hosted a visiting group of students for a week-long business program. Susan Mantel, Ph.D., professor of marketing, deepened Lindner’s relationship with PUJ by introducing INTB 3094 in spring 2019 to allow students to visit Bogotá. The course, offered each spring, is co-taught virtually with a PUJ professor alongside their students in Colombia. In just one semester, Lindner students obtain a masterclass in working virtually with an international team.
“They met in teams and created a business plan for a social entrepreneurial project that they designed. And they presented it at the end of the semester,” explained Mantel of the class's structure. “They got to interact with the Colombian students. They got to create a social entrepreneurial business... They got deeper relationships with the students.”
I just think if someone has the chance to do a study abroad, they really should. It's just really eye-opening. And it's so cool to see how welcoming another country is to you. If I had another chance to do another study abroad, I would take it in a minute.
Midori Zimmerman, UC Lindner College of Business student
After adapting to initial cultural differences, students quickly discover just how much they can learn from one another and how rewarding the experience is. Maloney wishes that all of her classes included this type of collaboration to gain a better understanding of “how business is done differently.”
Midori Zimmerman, BBA ’24, also traveled to Colombia in the spring and joined PUJ students this summer, introducing them to Cincinnati. Zimmerman was shocked at how much she was able to learn about the different business practices in Colombia.
“It was an eye-opening experience altogether to see how other countries conduct business and their relationships between their clients,” said Zimmerman. “In Colombia, we were just so welcomed by everyone, and everyone was so excited to teach us how they do their business."
Changing perspectives, creating global business problem solvers
Through global partnerships and the dedicated work of faculty and staff, Lindner is able to offer students a variety of study abroad opportunities and exposure to global cultures. From faculty-led trips to semester exchanges and international co-ops, Lindner students are uniquely positioned to explore the richness of the global business environment.
PUJ students visited several Cincinnati landmarks including, Fountain Square. Photo courtesy of Lee Armstrong.
“It develops them by being able to interact with people from different cultures and really connecting and finding out that they have so much in common with their peers,” said Armstrong. “And it's broadening their professional network. Many of them will end up doing business with some company or someone in another country.”
Such experiences can fundamentally shift students’ perceptions of other countries and cultures, changing how they approach their careers, future workplaces and business practices. Both Zimmerman and Maloney hope to integrate the takeaways from their experiences into their professional development and know first-hand how study abroad can spark a passion for travel and a renewed hunger for learning.
“I just think if someone has the chance to do a study abroad, they really should. It's just really eye-opening. And it's so cool to see how welcoming another country is to you,” Zimmerman advised. “If I had another chance to do another study abroad, I would take it in a minute."
Featured image at top: PUJ students chat with Lindner faculty, staff and students in a get-to-know-you activity in Lindner Hall's Kautz Attic. Photos/Danielle Lawrence
Empowering Global Business Problem Solvers
For 115 years, the Carl H. Lindner College of Business has fueled professional growth through a combination of academic and hands-on experiences. Impactful engagement in global knowledge and experiences is essential to developing innovative business leaders. Learn more about the advantages of bold business learning at Lindner.
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